Paralympics in Paris best event ever according to Janos Tardos

Janos Tardos, the Chair of the IBSA Judo Committee and a longtime leader in the development of para-judo worldwide, shared his reflections on the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games just before the final block of the tournament. His thoughts conveyed deep satisfaction and pride in what had been achieved during the event.

"It was honestly the best event ever," Tardos remarked, expressing his admiration for the seamless organization and the high level of competition. He found it difficult to identify any flaws in the event's management, praising the dedication of both the athletes and their coaches. According to Tardos, the quality of preparation among the judoka was unprecedented in his career, signifying that the conditions created for training and competition were optimal.

Tardos highlighted the technical quality of the judo displayed, noting the abundance of clean ippon techniques, strong tachi-waza, and effective groundwork. He emphasized the relatively low number of penalties for passivity and minimal golden score bouts, which reflected the athletes' readiness and skill level. "What is really important for me is that there was no serious accident on the tatami," he said, attributing this to the athletes being in excellent physical condition.

A particular point of pride for Tardos was the performance of J1 athletes, many of whom had exceeded expectations. Following concerns after the separation of J1 and J2 categories post-Tokyo, Paris 2024 saw half of the competitors in the J1 class, a significant milestone for the sport. He was also impressed by the diversity of nations on the podium, noting that after two days of competition, 10 medal events had been won by athletes from 8 different countries, with more expected by the end of the tournament. In total, 22 nations had medaled, illustrating the global growth of para-judo.

Tardos also praised the atmosphere in Paris, acknowledging the knowledgeable and enthusiastic French public, who supported all athletes regardless of their nationality. He emphasized the excellent collaboration between IBSA Judo, the International Judo Federation (IJF), and the local organizing committee, which contributed to the event's success.

As the tournament approached its conclusion, Tardos reflected that Paris 2024 had not only met expectations but far exceeded them, setting a high standard for future Paralympic judo events. He expressed optimism for the continued growth of para-judo and the sport in general, confident that the success of Paris 2024 would serve as a catalyst for future development.